___ Sea, Kazakh/Uzbek body of water

ARAL

Once one of the world’s largest lakes, this shrinking body of water lies between the Kyzylkum and Betpak-Dala deserts and has faced severe environmental decline. Its name sounds like a cry of alarm.

This clue is asking for the name of a famous inland body of water shared by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The blank signals a short answer, and "Aral" fits as the Aral Sea, once one of the world’s largest lakes before shrinking dramatically due to irrigation projects. The name is straightforward—no wordplay—just a direct reference to a well-known geographical feature in Central Asia.